Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour/USA Superweapon General vs. China Nuke General

This mission is next to impossible if the strategies employed in the previous missions are deployed. Severe time constraints are placed on you to destroy the five Nuclear Missiles before they decimate your base. In addition to this, the Chinese tanks are upgraded with nuclear shells and are much more deadly to your troops. Overlords are constantly threatening to overrun your defenses – while Nuke Cannons sit outside the protective range of your Laser Turrets to rain down destruction on your base.

Key Strategies

• Capture all three oil derricks on the bottom part of the map. Don’t worry about defending the two furthest away. They may be destroyed later in the mission, but in the meantime you will receive essential funds to build your war machine. (Those Aurora bombers are expensive!)
• Build two Airfields, using four Raptors to patrol your base and four Aurora bombers to help destroy the Nuclear Missiles.
• Use Colonel Burton, then Pathfinders to destroy infantry units so that your Raptors will focus on the larger targets.

Colonel Burton will be overwhelmed trying to destroy all of the Nuke Cannons, and he is at great risk from the upgraded tanks. He may be able to “dodge the bullet,” but the nuclear radiation that comes with the blast can prove deadly.

Additional defensive measures are necessary.

Throughout practically the entire Zero Hour campaigns, successful strategies can be utilized without the use of air power. (The exception to this is the powerful Helixes in the Chinese missions.)

But in this mission, air power is absolutely critical. A protective ring of Raptors will protect your base from Nuke Cannons – while Aurora bombers aid your Particle Cannons in disassembling the Nuclear Missiles.

The Nuclear Missiles have a countdown of twelve minutes, while your Particle Cannons have a countdown of four. Still, the pressure is on. Good luck!

Walkthrough

Build a Reactor, second bulldozer, Barracks and Supply Center. Immediately research the Capture command, upgrade the Reactor and build a second supply helicopter.

Create three Rangers and send them to capture the three oil derricks along the bottom of the map. Eventually two of them will be destroyed, but by then your supply levels will be healthier.

Build three Patriots spaced far enough away so that your Airfields and Particle Cannons can fit within their protective range.

Build a War Factory, an Airfield, then a Strategy Center. Start building two Raptors to protect your base.

Start building a second Airfield. Build a fourth Patriot to protect your base. Build two more Raptors and have them patrol the other side of your base.

Enlist Colonel Burton and have him patrol the front of your base, destroying all infantry units possible. This will enable your four Raptors to target the armored units instead.

Start building four Aurora bombers.

Build and upgrade a second Reactor, then start building your first Particle Cannon.

Keep repeating the above until you have three Particle Cannons built.

You should still have funds available at this point. A Supply Drop Zone will help ensure continued supplies rolling in.

Upgrade Countermeasures and Laser Missiles to add strength to your air power.

Consider adding a fifth and/or sixth Patriot to beef up your defenses.

The mission can be beat with just the two Airfields and three Particle Cannons. When you have the time, you may want to start adding additional PC’s to speed up the completion of the mission later in the game.

Offensive Operations

It is possible to knock out the Nuclear Missile in the middle of the map with just your four Aurora bombers. Have your Particle Cannon on standby in case it is needed.

Most of your Aurora bombers will survive this run. Rebuild any lost Auroras throughout all of these attacks.

Next target the closest Nuclear Missile on the west side of the map with a combination of your Auroras and Particle Cannon.

The Nuclear Missile further back on the west side of the map has more air defense and all of your Auroras will probably be lost on this bombing run.

Rebuild your fleet to at least two bombers and repeat on the east side of the map until all of the Nuclear Missiles are gone.

Important: You can still lose the game at this point. The Nuke General has a powerful Missile Strike that can destroy your Airfields and leave you vulnerable to continued Nuke Cannon attacks.

Build a few Pathfinders to help keep your base clear of infantry. Replace any Raptors that are lost.

It doesn’t seem that the Nuke General rebuilds his structures, so you can now start targeting away at his base.

First target his Command Center so you won’t have to deal with the Missile Strikes against your base. Then target the Weapons Factories and Airfields.

It is not necessary to launch a ground assault. Build extra Particle Cannons while waiting for your others to recharge and start destroying their base from space. It is not necessary to destroy armor, infantry, Bunkers, Gattling Cannons and garrisoned buildings to achieve victory.

Mission accomplished!